Lasting Memories

Anthony Michael Echavia
April 4, 1965-Dec. 11, 2024
Pleasanton, California

Anthony “Coach Tony” Echavia was a lifelong Pleasanton resident who was most often pictured with a sunglasses tan, standing at third base, waving someone in to score with a big smile on his face. The only thing to eclipse his love for coaching was his love for his wife Ann, son Michael, daughters Kathryn and Christina, son-in-law Zane, daughter-in-law Katie, and dog Mysti. Coach Tony passed away surrounded by family on December 11, 2024 after a battle with ALS.

Tony was an active and mischievous kid and could be found riding bikes with his friends in the Highland Oaks neighborhood and “white water rafting” during storms in Pleasanton’s creek. He was a lifelong athlete who graduated from Foothill High in 1983 where he played football, wrestling, and ran track & field as a sprinter and pole-vaulter.

His passion for sports continued into college where he ran track & field for Delta College while attending University of the Pacific. There, he met the love of his life and wife of 34 years, Ann. He enjoyed building elaborate structures like multi-story slides with his Omega Phi Alpha brothers and his lifelong curiosity for how things work led him to pursue dual Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics degrees. He applied his engineering skills at Underwriter Laboratories and Xerox Engineering Systems, followed by a 25 year career at Cisco Systems leading Engineering Program Management teams. Tony’s goofy and charismatic personality radiated in the office as did his colorful language.

But Tony’s proudest career moments were on the softball, baseball, soccer, and flag football fields. He coached Pleasanton Little League, PGSL, Phantom, Ballistic, RAGE, and PJFL recreational and travelling teams for 15 years. Outside of the Pleasanton community he coached Young Guns, East Bay Rockets, Synergy, Wolfpack, Easton Preps Bay Area, and Elite softball teams alongside Ken Thompson. Tony’s teams won championships but most importantly he developed numerous players who earned collegiate athletic scholarships.

Tony’s legacy lives on through the values he instilled in the athletes he coached, his selfless devotion with which he loved his family, and the network of relationships he created in the office.

Tony reunites with his father Margarito Echavia, mother Jessie Echavia, and sister Marilynn Lum. He is survived by his immediate family, sisters Marjorie Yee, Pamela Carleton, Belinda Quan, and Christine Echavia, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Tony’s family will host a memorial at Graham-Hitch Mortuary (4167 First St, Pleasanton, CA 94566) on Friday, December 20, 2024 with visitation at 11 AM and service at noon followed by burial at Pleasanton Pioneer Cemetery (5780 Sunol Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566). A celebration of his life at the Echavia Family home will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Team Echavia ALS Network Memorial Fund (secure.alsnetwork.org/goto/Team_Echavia).